Jillian Harvey

Silk screen printer

The crisp joy of colour printing

For Jillian, screenprinting is an alchemy of colours, patterns and layers
She loves blocks of colour and producing detail with texture
Her prints evoke memories of a place and nature

Jillian Harvey was born in Kent and had a noteworthy career with a major auction house, for which she travelled the world and developed a love for artworks from Asia. Later in life, Jillian has followed her passion for art, first at West Dene College and by earning a degree in fine arts, majoring in printmaking at Chichester University. Today, Jillian has a studio at her home in Hampshire where botanicals and architecture inspire her work, along with surface patterns. In her works, she recreates architectural details from her wide travels in the USA, Australia, Japan and South East Asia. Jillian prints on Fabriano paper, and she mixes her own inks. She makes one-off prints and sometimes small editions of two, to maintain a unique quality.

Interview

What attracted you to screen printing?: At my art school in Chichester, there was an amazing print room which became my own little world. I was in control of the process. I love processes. I like that printing slows me down, as I have to think through each step, and need to be precise.
Would you say your work is more contemporary or traditional?: I marry the two qualities. Printmaking is based on traditional ways of creating. I like that I have taught myself the technology. I use Adobe Illustrator to produce repeat patterns, and surface pattern designs on any scale. It is fascinating and has made life easier for me.
What is your relationship with colour?: I am excited to see a block of colour when it is printed beautifully, and appears so crisp on the paper. I like white paper being always present in my prints. I love mixing colours, especially happy colours such as pinks, blues and greens.
What are inspirations for your subjects?: My heart lives in botanical work: cut flowers and the details within a flower. Whenever I travel, I take photos and then make sketches from the photos. These can be architectural details, for example. In Japan, even the manhole covers have beautiful details.

Jillian Harvey is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2011